Apple-Cranberry Scones

Makes 10-12 scones

2 c. flour

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

6 Tbsp. cold butter

3/4 c. half and half, milk, sour cream, or yogurt

1 egg

1 Tbsp. vanilla

1 1/3 c. shredded peeled apple

1/4 c. dried cranberries

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In another bowl, whisk cream, egg and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients just until moistened (dough will be stiff if you used sour cream or yogurt, or stickier if you used half and half or milk).

Stir in apple and cranberries. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet, or turn out onto floured surface, knead 10 times, and cut into wedges (I've found that the dough is usually too sticky to knead and neatly cut into wedges, so I've resorted to simply dropping the dough).

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until done (watch out for the bottoms burning!)

Scones make think of friends. For the past 4 months, I've been getting together weekly for breakfast and coffee with a few women that I met when I first moved here. The girl who hosts usually fixes coffee and something to eat ... I think I've made scones every time I've hosted. The great thing about these scones is that you can substitute whatever you want to instead of apples and cranberries ... I've used just cranberries, just raisins, raisins and cranberries, pears, chocolate chips, and blueberries. I've added cinnamon before, and left it out. It's really flexible (like friends), pretty forgiving (again, like friends), and worth it every time (you get the point).

To my one faithful reader out there: Let me know if you try the scones with something else ... I've considered grated carrot, cinnamon, and nutmeg, but don't want to gross everyone out, and I'm not sure I'm willing to eat an entire batch of carrot scones. I'd love for you to let me know if Banana-Coconut Scones work out for you ...